Respiratory Therapy Flow Generator Mounting for Stable Tubing Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory therapy systems face issues with tubing displacement and discomfort due to the positioning of flow generators, leading to disrupted seals, noise, and reduced patient compliance, especially when the generator is placed to the right or left of the patient, causing tubing to exert forces on the interface or fall, and long lengths of tubing can become tangled or exert weight on the patient.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory therapy apparatus with a support fixation arrangement that allows the system to be attached to a support, such as a hook structure, ensuring the gases outlet is oriented vertically downwards, reducing tubing displacement and discomfort by hanging the system above the patient, thus minimizing tubing drag and tangling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the flow generator is positioned close to the patient's bed (on a nightstand to the right or left), then the tubing length can be kept relatively short, but the tubing movement exerts forces on the patient interface causing sealing disruption and the flow generator may slide or fall creating noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the flow generator positioning from a horizontal arrangement (on nightstands to the left or right of the patient) to a vertical arrangement (above the patient's head). This dimensional change allows the tubing to hang vertically downward under gravity, eliminating lateral forces that cause sealing disruption while maintaining short tubing length.
2Reliability
If relatively long lengths of tubing are used to prevent movement forces on the patient interface, then the sealing stability is improved, but the flow resistance increases causing excess noise and the tubing may become tangled
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the flow generator vertically above the patient, the tubing hangs in a straight vertical line under gravity rather than extending horizontally across the bed. This eliminates tubing tangling and minimizes flow resistance, thereby reducing excess noise while maintaining adequate seal stability.
3Reliability
If relatively long lengths of tubing are used to prevent movement forces, then the sealing stability is improved, but the tubing weight exerts force on the patient interface and flow generator
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical positioning of the flow generator above the patient allows the tubing to hang vertically, directing the weight force downward along the tubing's length rather than laterally onto the patient interface or flow generator. This gravitational alignment eliminates harmful lateral forces while maintaining seal stability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the flow generator is positioned to the right or left of the patient, then the setup is simple, but the tubing can fall on the patient's face or body causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning the flow generator vertically above the patient's head eliminates the risk of tubing falling onto the patient's face or body, as the tubing hangs vertically downward in clear space above the patient. This maintains setup simplicity while eliminating the harmful effect of tubing contact with the patient.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow generator for use in respiratory therapy can be constructed with a housing. A support fixation arrangement can be fixed to the housing. The support fixation arrangement can have a tab having an aperture that may be fitted over a hook extending from a support structure. The tab can be fixed to the housing such that it is manually liftable or pivotable about a plane.